Editing Distributed generation (section)

== Stand alone hybrid systems ==
It is now possible to combine technologies such as [[photovoltaics]], [[Battery (electricity)|batteries]] and [[cogeneration]] to make stand alone distributed generation systems.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Shah | first1 = Kunal K. | last2 = Mundada | first2 = Aishwarya S. | last3 = Pearce | first3 = Joshua M. | year = 2015 | title = Performance of U.S. hybrid distributed energy systems: Solar photovoltaic, battery and combined heat and power | url = https://www.academia.edu/14674492 | journal = Energy Conversion and Management | volume = 105 | pages = 71–80 | doi = 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.07.048 | bibcode = 2015ECM...105...71S | s2cid = 107189983 }}</ref>

Recent work has shown that such systems have a low [[levelized cost of electricity]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Mundada | first1 = Aishwarya | last2 = Shah | first2 = Kunal | last3 = Pearce | first3 = Joshua M. | year = 2016 | title = Levelized cost of electricity for solar photovoltaic, battery and cogen hybrid systems | url = https://www.academia.edu/20141118 | journal = Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | volume = 57 | pages = 692–703 | doi=10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.084| bibcode = 2016RSERv..57..692M | s2cid = 110914380 }}</ref>

Many authors now think that these technologies may enable a mass-scale [[grid defection]] because consumers can produce electricity using [[off grid]] systems primarily made up of [[solar photovoltaic]] technology.<ref>Kumagai, J., 2014. The rise of the personal power plant. IEEE Spectrum,51(6), pp.54-59.</ref><ref>Abhilash Kantamneni, Richelle Winkler, Lucia Gauchia, Joshua M. Pearce, [https://www.academia.edu/25363058/Emerging_Economic_Viability_of_Grid_Defection_in_a_Northern_Climate_Using_Solar_Hybrid_Systems free open access Emerging economic viability of grid defection in a northern climate using solar hybrid systems]. ''Energy Policy'' '''95''', 378–389 (2016). doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.05.013</ref><ref>Khalilpour, R. and Vassallo, A., 2015. Leaving the grid: An ambition or a real choice?. Energy Policy, 82, pp.207-221.</ref> For example, the Rocky Mountain Institute has proposed that there may wide scale [[grid defection]].<ref>The Economics of Grid Defection – Rocky Mountain Institute
  http://www.rmi.org/electricity_grid_defection {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812215342/http://www.rmi.org/electricity_grid_defection |date=12 August 2016 }}</ref> This is backed up by studies in the Midwest.<ref>Andy Balaskovitz [http://midwestenergynews.com/2016/06/14/net-metering-changes-could-drive-people-off-grid-michigan-researchers-say/  Net metering changes could drive people off grid, Michigan researchers say] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615112536/http://midwestenergynews.com/2016/06/14/net-metering-changes-could-drive-people-off-grid-michigan-researchers-say/ |date=15 June 2016 }} – MidWest Energy News</ref>